Join Books.org — it's free

Crocodaddy by Kim Norman — book cover
Fiction - Animals - Marine Life, Fiction - General & Miscellaneous, Fiction - Emotions & Behaviors, Fiction - Family Life

Crocodaddy

by Kim Norman, David Walker
Write a review
Log in to track your reading progress.

Overview

Celebrate the imagination—and the love between father and son—with this new board book edition of the fun, rhyming, and totally original story. On a hot summer's day, a young boy playfully sets out on a “crocodaddy hunt” in the lake. Following the creature's shadow, dark and wet, he's soon taking a wild ride on the grinning croc's back. And when they leave the water, something wonderful happens: Crocodaddy transforms into…just DADDY. Bright, energetic illustrations (complete with wily crocodile in Dad's swim trunks) highlight the story's humor and warmth.
 

Synopsis

Celebrate the imagination—and the love between father and son—with a fun, rhyming, and totally original picture book. On a hot summer’s day, a young boy playfully sets out on a “crocodaddy hunt” in the lake. Following the creature’s shadow, dark and wet, he’s soon taking a wild ride on the grinning croc’s back. And when they leave the water, something wonderful happens: Crocodaddy transforms into…just DADDY. Bright, energetic illustrations (complete with wily crocodile in Dad’s swim trunks) highlight the story’s humor and warmth.

School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 1

A little boy and his father frolic in a pond on a lazy summer day. The child is "captain of the Crocodaddy hunt." He rides the creature, lures it with a sandwich, and splashes and giggles, but he doesn't succeed in taming the wild beast until he tickles its knees. The final spread shows the father restored to his human form, while the boy, "a little chip off the lazy old Croc," pretends to be the crocodile. Walker's vibrant colors and expressive characters bounce along with the percussive rhyming text, lending visual power to what could have been a one-note premise. This celebration of imaginative play holds appeal for children.-Kathleen Kelly MacMillan, Carroll County Public Library, MD

About the Author, Kim Norman

Kim Norman has been a singer, songwriter, artist, and comedic actress. Her picture books include Ten on the Sled (Sterling, 2010), Crocodaddy (Sterling, 2009), and Jack of All Tails (Dutton, 2007). Kim lives in Smithfield, VA. Learn more about her at kimnormanbooks.com.
 
David Walker worked for Hallmark Cards as an art director. He now has his own studio in Chapel Hill, NC where he does freelance illustration. He is the illustrator of numerous books for young readers, including Sterling's Time for a Hug (2012), Hello, Texas! (2010), and Nighty-Night, Sleep Tight (2013).

Reviews

There are no reviews yet. Log in to write one.

Editorials

School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 1

A little boy and his father frolic in a pond on a lazy summer day. The child is "captain of the Crocodaddy hunt." He rides the creature, lures it with a sandwich, and splashes and giggles, but he doesn't succeed in taming the wild beast until he tickles its knees. The final spread shows the father restored to his human form, while the boy, "a little chip off the lazy old Croc," pretends to be the crocodile. Walker's vibrant colors and expressive characters bounce along with the percussive rhyming text, lending visual power to what could have been a one-note premise. This celebration of imaginative play holds appeal for children.-Kathleen Kelly MacMillan, Carroll County Public Library, MD

Kirkus Reviews

A little boy and his father indulge in some splashy imaginative play. A rhyming text details the swimming-trunks- and baseball-cap-clad tot's interior monologue as he hunts for, taunts and tames his "Crocodaddy:" "Crocodaddy, Crocodaddy, whatcha gonna do? / Crocodaddy hunter is RIDING on you!" Walker's bright acrylics take all possible menace out of the foolery, dressing his croc in Dad's yellow trunks and bestowing on him just two tiny paint smears for teeth. The good humor in the proceedings is evident in every spread, and it's a game many children will be well familiar with. But Norman's scansion sputters at points, and it doesn't provide quite enough for the illustrations to scaffold on. Even at 32 pages, it's still a spread or two too long to maintain interest. (Picture book. 3-5)

Book Details

Published
May 1, 2009
Publisher
Sterling Publishing
Pages
32
Format
Hardcover
ISBN
9781402744600

More by Kim Norman

Similar books